My City: YONAS is Bronx to the Bone (Exclusive Interview) Posted by Nathan S. on 03/30/10 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, My City, Yonas

After years of rhyming under the moniker Cause, Bronx representer YONAS mas made the switch to his birth name, and with the new name has come a re-commitment to making dope music (see "Mindless"). In the latest edition of our My City series, YONAS sits down to talk about how the Bronx' heavy history affects his present day music, why he's proud to be from New York and explains that if you're looking for him, you better be in the studio.

RefinedHype: You hail from the Bronx, a place with an extraordinarily deep hip-hop history. How does that history affect your music now?

YONAS: I think me being from the Bronx has more of an effect on the audience that hears me and finds out where I'm from, than it does on my music making process. Growing up in the Bronx itself has definitely shaped who I am today as a person but in terms of my music, I draw from so many different places, I think I'm actually creating a new persona for the Bronx, and I believe I'm the first to really create music of this nature coming out of the Bronx. We'll just have to see how it all pans out, haha. But I definitely want to create a new image for the Bronx because it's not all just boom-bap hip hop, or hipster rap, or even street rap, there's so much more that exists in our borough and I want to shed light on it.

RefinedHype: If I didn't know you were from the Bronx, would I be able to hear it from your music?

YONAS: Definitely, I shout out the Bronx often and make sure to show love to the borough that helped raised me. I really just have a lot of New York pride in general, and it shows in my music.

RefinedHype: What inspires you about your city?

YONAS: The fusion of the different cultures, the diversity of the people, the grittiness of the urban communities, and the snootiness of the financially elite. The stores, the restaurants, the trains, the stadiums, and the skyscrapers. This city is one of a kind, and it's magnificent to experience.

RefinedHype: If I'm rolling through the Bronx where can I find you?

YONAS:You wouldn't be able to find me, haha, I'm very low key. 90% of the time you'll find me in a studio setting, but on the rare occasion that I'm spotted outside, It's usually around University Heights, my neighborhood.

RefinedHype: Last words?

YONAS:I'm really excited for the future. It's been 2 & 1/2 years of learning, growing musically, and building relationships with good people, and I feel like I'm on the cusp of something truly special this year. My new album "SEVEN" is nearing completion and I think the energy myself and my producer Sean Divine have been able to capture, is something the world will feel strongly about. We've really learned to approach this music thing from the perspective of the art rather than treating it like a business and I think it really shows. My first free album "I AM US" hosted by DjBooth.net is currently available for free on their site and is doing extremely well. In addition, my first official album "The New Golden Era" is currently available on iTunes, Rhapsody, and AmazonMp3 - just search Yonas on iTunes to find it. Definitely pick up those 2 projects when you get the chance and feel free to hit me up any time at Twitter.com/itsYonas - I'd like to express my appreciation to the people that support my music, I won't let you down. 2010's going to be a big year!